It is deeply concerning that Stabroek News, one of Guyana’s newspapers, has once again found itself at the centre of a controversy over misinformation — this time involving a matter as delicate as diplomatic relations between Guyana and Venezuela.
In a recent report, Stabroek News stated that the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana denied that Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed had ever visited the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown. However, this claim proved to be completely false. The Ambassador’s remarks only referred to Azruddin Mohamed, not Nazar Mohamed.
The newspaper has since issued a correction and an apology, admitting that its earlier statement was wrong. However, as is often the case, the retraction came long after the damage was done. Misreporting on such a sensitive issue — especially when it involves individuals already under international scrutiny — is not just a minor editorial mistake; it indicates a severe failure in journalistic responsibility. In the world of fake news, many newspapers know the story is false but publish it anyway, then issue an apology the next day. We are aware of their phony game.
What makes this incident even more troubling is that the truth was never unclear or hard to verify. Publicly available video footage showed Nazar Mohamed leaving the Venezuelan Embassy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had officially confirmed his visit in a press release. Despite this, the newspaper failed to conduct proper fact-checking before publishing.
For a media institution with decades of history, such an oversight is unacceptable. It raises uncomfortable questions about how thoroughly facts are checked before reaching the public. In an era of rapidly spreading misinformation, trusted outlets have an even greater duty to uphold accuracy and integrity.
When Stabroek News casually dismisses such a mistake with a brief apology, it not only undermines its own credibility but also damages public trust in the press overall. Journalism relies on truth and accountability — not rush or carelessness.
The Guyanese people deserve better than half-checked headlines followed by quiet corrections. If Stabroek News wants to remain a leading voice in national discourse, it must recommit to the principles that define responsible reporting: accuracy, verification, and transparency.
Because when facts fail, trust follows — and rebuilding that trust takes far more than a one-line apology.